OYT Training Weekend - Day 1

Saturday 10^th February 2024

0500 hrs

Jumped in the car for the early morning drive to Gosport and the annual OYT training weekend. Always a good time to catch up with Sea Staff and get up to date with things. Thankfully, my First Aid at Sea was still in date so that was not my top proprity.

0830 hrs

Arrived at Gosport Cruising Club to sign in and start the day then spotted one of the Navy's aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) at Portsmouth

0930 hrs

Introduction to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

One of many talks I have attended on the subject, but with particular emphasis on Refugees. Fascinating to hear somebody talk with real life experience and not what you read in the press.

1400 hrs

Mental Wellbeing

A mental health talk with a difference, how to look after yourself rather than what to look out for in others.

1900 hrs

Mark, the CEO, gave his summary of last year. His always a very engaging speaker and a joy to listen to.

Most people stayed for dinner and drinks at the bar where we caught up with each other's news, swapped stories and looked forward to the new sailing season.

All times are UTC.

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Sunrise: 0736 hrs Sunset: 1721 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 9 Feb 2024 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 10 Feb 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Feb 2024 .

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in Plymouth. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Wight, becoming very rough or high later in Plymouth. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 10/02/2024

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Plans for 2024

Monday 1^st January 2024

With the boat being on the hard for almost two years 2024 really does need to be one that I get some sailing on Aphrodite.

At the beginning of each year I sit down and plan what I want to do on the boat. Looking back at the last few years, little has run to plan. Let's see if 2024 bucks that trend. There are a few trips that keep popping into my head.

The First is a 'Not the Jester' trip to Baltimore, Ireland.

Proposed trip to Baltimore, Ireland.

A return trip to the Ile d'Ouessant, Ushant for the hard of hearing, in Brittany, now we have sorted out how to move between parallel universes after the disaster that is Brexit – which means I will need to visit a port of entry on arrival and departure in France. The final big trip will be a trip to the Channel Islands.

I've made my usual commitment to the Ocean Youth Trust and a delivery or two might come along. There is always the 'Elephant in the Room' my Yachtmaster exam!

Something that I am considering keeping Aphrodite afloat over the winter and get a bit of sailing in, there is always the option of diving into a marina if there are storms forecast.

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Lift Out 2023

Friday 17^th November 2023

I finally got the boat out of the water for winter. Never been this late, but Storm Ciarán delayed things on the planned lift out day then we had to consider tides for the run up to Treluggan.

I popped down to the boat on afternoon of 15/11/2023 and rowed the dinghy out to the boat. Did all the usual daily checks and settled down for the evening. I really do need to get the heater installed as at this time of year it really does get cold onboard.

Thursday lunchtime I rowed ashore and drove to Treluggan Boatyard and met up with the boat was going to help me move the boat. We dropped off his car and returned back to Saltash Sailing Club, jumped in the dinghy and rowed back out to the boat. On firing up the engine, it was not happy as air was getting into the fuel system. We took the risk as we knew what was happening and motored over to Mark's boat on the Devon side of the river. Tied up to his boat so he could retrieve some kit and pottered back to the club pontoon. After talking sternly to engine we headed to the pub with the big Union Flag painted on the front! A proper pub with decent beer.

Dinner at the Saltash Sailing Club and an early night.

0500 hrs

The alarm went off and I turned the kettle on. We decided to wait until we had enough light to see as there were a lot of moorings with no boats on them before setting off. I really, really did not want the embarrassment of fouling my prop on somebody's mooring.

0700 hrs

We cast off from the pontoon and headed down the Tamar before a turn to starboard and up the Lynher.

Apart from the engine having an occasional 'grumble' as it ingested some air, full throttle sorted that out, the trip was very pleasant on a cold winter's morning with little movement on the water. Sadly, there were two masts sticking out of the water and I wondered if they had just been left to sink as wrecks or if there had been a reason why they had sunk. Still means that somebody needs to lift them from the sea bed at some point in time.

0830 hrs

Arrived at Treluggan to be met by Tom and Donald making their way down the slope. Turned everything off and collected our kit and headed back to Saltash. I always think it is easier for them to get on with the job of propping the boat up without the owner fussing about in the background.

En Route to the sailing club Mark pulled in at a greasy spoon, KLM Diner on the outskirts of Saltash and a small breakfast and tea purchased later to be consumed outside the club. With cars in all in the right place we all headed for home at the end of a short day.

All times are UTC.

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The Numbers:

	Underway	Distance NM	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	1h 32m	6.80	4.40	6.10	0h 00m
Year:	2h 47m	14.90	5.32	6.10	0h 00m

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Crew: Sandy Garrity (Skipper), Mark Rodgers

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Sunrise: 0733 hrs Sunset: 1632 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 16 Nov 2023 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 17 Nov 2023 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 Nov 2023.

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4, then south 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough in Plymouth, elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 17/11/2023

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Southampton Boat Show

Saturday 23^rd September 2023

As I had not been to the Southampton Boat Show for a few years and the dates conveniently coincided with an Ocean Youth Trust voyage that ended in Southampton I found an AirBnB in Southampton and stayed the extra day.

Gosh what a tired looking show it has become!  Tiny in scale when compared with to pre-COVID times.  The usually stall holders were either absent or on stalls a third of the size that I saw on my last visit.

I whizzed round the show, spent some time catching up with old friends on stalls and quickly fought my way through the incoming crowd, yes I really was leaving that early and probably saved a small fortune in lunch.

Following the visit I can't ever see a return one.

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OYT MACS Trip Day 7: Brixham

Tuesday 8^th August 2023

0700 hrs

Everybody woke and had breakfast. Then a 'super happy hour', a really deep boat clean.

1000 hrs

The voyage wrap up talk and certificates handed out to all of the crew.

1100 hrs

The crew depart and the Sea Staff start Prolific's weekly and monthly checks. The new members of Sea Staff start to arrive and the current ones pack and get ready for departure.

1300 hrs

With the boat safely handed over to the new skipper and crew Andy B suggested we all head into Brixham for coffee and a cake. We found The Chart Room, this is a delightful Cunard themed coffee shop, turns out the owner used to be a steward on ocean going liners.

1430 hrs

Back on Prolific and we collect our kit and had a farwell hug before heading back home.

An amazing trip that left me very humble given the lack of vision that many of the crew had.

All times are UTC.

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